Implement for applying fluid and semipaste materials



Mud! 1940- J. P. msssu. JR 2,192,479

INPLEMENT FOR APPLYING FLUID AND SEMIPASTE MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 4, 1938 gH Uc/WM up/aw P. NISSEMJR.

s a 1 w 3 v. a W Md M ii u March 5, 1940- J.'P. NISSEN. JR ,192, 79

IMPLEMENT FOR APPLYING FLUID AND SEMIPASTE MATERIALS Filed Aug. 4, 19582 Sheets-Sheet 2 '/Il.7//I/III Patented Mar. 5, 1940 7 IMPLEMENT FORAPPLYING FLUID AND SEMIPASTE MATERIALS John P. Nissen, Jr., Noble, Pa.

Application August 4,

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to implements for applying fluids or semipastes to underlying, substantially horizontal surfaces. Theimplement of the invention may be used wherever a 5 fluid or pastymaterial of a reasonable degree of fluidityis to be applied to a surfacein a relatively small area, such as a strip or a line, as in markingwith paint, ink or the like, or in applying spots, lines or other areasof materials 1 implements, the invention may also be utilized for-thecoating of relatively large areas, as for example, the inking of astamping ink pad, or the stamping of definite characters upon surfaces.

Many attempts have been made in the past to provide applicators forfluid materials such as inks of varying degrees of fluidity, mucilageand other materials of similar physical characteristics, and some suchimplements have comprised valved applicator tips and rigid reservoirbarrels that contain the fluid to be applied, the reservoir barrelsbeing intended to serve as handles for the operator to grasp in usingthe implements'. Some of these devices have been equipped with automaticvalves having operating means extending beyond the ends of the tips, bymeans of which the valves were to be" opened when the tip was applied tothe surface 30 to be treated. Long experiment with such devices hasrevealed that they are not satisfactory I for the reason that there hasbeen no efi'ective means for feeding the coating material from thereservoir to the applicator, and from the I applied. 1

While many expedients have been tried in anattempt to provide asatisfactory means of feed- Another problem that is encountered is thepro tection of the coating material from contact with the air, sincemost coating materials of the kind ordinarily used in implements of thistype are air-drying, and the contact of the air with the material in thereservoir results in spoilsuch as adhesives. By using specialized typesof applicatoiyto the surface upon which it is to be- 1938, Serial No.223,111

One type of implement that has been attempted has endeavored to make useof spring pressure to feed the material, but spring devices have notproved satisfactory for the reason that a spring will not deliver aneven' and constant pressure from the time it is tensioned during releaseof its tension. When a spring is applied to a device of this kind, itwill cause a free feed when it is first tensioned, due to the highpressure that it exerts at first, but as the tension diminishes, thepressure diminishes also, and the feed will diminish with the pressure,resulting in non-uniform operatidn of the implement.

Hand operated followers for the body of coating material have also beenproposed, but these are not satisfactory since they require operation bythe user, and it is very difiicult to so. control such a device as todeliver an even and constant pressure upon the material within thereservoir.

It has also been proposed to admit air to the interior of the reservoirdirectly in the rear of the body of fluid, and to rely upon the weightof the fluid to feed itself to the tip. This is manifestlyunsatisfactory in the case of airdrying or volatile fluid since the airat the rear of the body will cause the fluid to evaporate and harden ordry in the reservoir, not only spoiling: the coating material, but alsooften ruining the implement. Obviously a system of this kind willalso beinoperative when the coating material is of such viscosity that itsweight will not cause it to flow through the passage to the mouth of theapplicator tip.

Qne object of the present invention is to provide novel feeding meansfor an implement comprising a rigid, barrel-like reservoir containing abodyof fluid or semipaste that is to be applied to a surface as acoating, and such implement being adapted to be held in a substantiallyvertical position during the application.

Another object is to provide a novel feeding means that will, when theimplement is in operative position, exert an even and constant pressureupon .the coating material within the reser' voir from the time that theuse ofthe material is started until the reservoir is exhausted.

Still another object is to provide novel feeding means for animplementof this type that will permit entry of air at the rear of the coatingmaterial, yet that will protect the material from direct contact withthe air.

A further object is to provide a novel feeding,means having thedesirable features mentioned above that is inexpensive to manufactureand install in the implements, and one that is capable of easyadjustment to suit materials of different degrees of fluidity, or togive different rates of feed according to the purpose to which theimplement is to be put.

The invention is based upon the discovery that a weighted follower,slidable in a rigid tubular reservoir at the res. of and in contact witha body of fluid or semipaste material will,-when the implement is placedin substantially vertical position, and the tip opened, feed thematerial from the implement evenly and effectively, and at the same timewill protect the material from contact with air sufficientlyto render itsatisfactory even with materials of considerable volatility. When such afollower, of a weight selected according to the viscosity of thematerial with which it is to be used, and also in accordance with thedesired rate of feed, is placed upon the upper surface of a body of thematerial in a rigid tubular reservoir, it will exert a constant and evenpressure upon the body and the material will be fed from the implementin a most desirable manner. The pressure so exerted will be constantfrom the beginning of the use of the material until the reservoir isexhausted, and therefore the feed remains constant.

Such a follower, if closely engaged with the inner surfaces of thereservoir walls, has a remarkable effect in protecting the material fromcontact with air for long periods of time. By the use of the invention,even such materials as cements containing large proportions of volatileacetone solvents have been used in implements of this type, and thecontents have remained in good condition during long periods of disusebetween periods of using the implement. Implements provided withautomatic valved tips have proved satisfactory for use with thesevolatile cements when followers constructed in accordance with thisinvention have been inserted in the reservoirs of such implements.

In order to describe the invention and to illustrate practicalembodiments thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken elevation of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a valve that may be used withthe implement.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the tip of the implement,showing the manner of operation of the valve.

Figure 7 is a broken elevation of an implement having a specialized formof coating tip. Figure 8 is a plan view of the end of the tip shown inFigure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a broken elevation of an implement provided with anotherform of specialized tip. 1

Figure 11 is a plan view of the end of the tip shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a sectional view on line l2l2. of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of the valve backing plate of theembodiment of Figure 10.

Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view on line l4-I4 of Figure 10.

Describing the drawings more particularly, the embodiment of Figures 1to 6 comprises a rigid tubular reservoir II, that for practical reasonsis preferably round in cross section. The upper or rear end of thereservoir I5 is closed by a cap l6 suitably connected therewith, asbythreads or other suitable fastenin and which is provided with a smallvent I! for admission of air to the interior of the reservoir as thecoating material is withdrawn. The forward or delivery end, which is thelower end when the implement is in use, has a delivery tip mountedthereon, such tip being designated generally l8, and here shown ascomprising a conical shell I9 and a skirt 20 that is attached to thereservoir I5, as by. frictional contact with its wall.

Within the'tip I8, and conveniently engaged between the end of thereservoir and the inner surface of the conical portion I8, is a spider2| that is provided with openings 22 for the pas-- sage of the coatingmaterial, and supporting a plunger 23, the stem of which passes throughits central portion. The plunger 23 is headed at its outer end and bearsupon a ball 24 that is of proper size to close a delivery opening ormouth 25 in the end of the tip, the ball 24 being movable inwardly toopen the mouth 25 for the passage of the material, as shown in Figure 6.A spring 26 is coiled about ,the plunge its ends bearing respectivelyagainst the spider and the head of the plunger to urge thelatteroutwardly, whereby the ball is pressed to closing position in themouth 25. The inward motion of the ball is limited, as shown in Figure 6by the configuration of the coils of the spring 26, or otherwise, sothat the ball protrudes slightly from the mouth 25 when the latter isopen. The protruding ball provides a bearing upon the surface that isbeing treated and prevents the tip from catching when its end is pressedupon a rough surface as a textile. As shown in Figure 2, the wallsurrounding the mouth 25 forms a seat for the ball 24 when the latter isin its closed position, and

the mouth is of such size that the ball protrudes ,to protect the upperor rear surface of the body of 'material from contact by air even thoughthe material may be sufiiciently fluid to be capable of flowing to thetip and through the mouth under its own weight, a follower 28 ispositioned within the reservoir in contact with the said upper surfaceof the body of material.

The follower 28 is of proper cross sectional size and shape to slidablyengage the inner surface of the wall of the reservoir 15 throughout itsperiphery, the fit being of suflicient closeness to just allow thefollower to slide in the reservoir when the latter is empty, and inorder to insure that it does not turn axially and jam it is preferablymade greater in length than its diameter. The weight of the follower isselected in accordance with the fluidity of the material to be appliedby the implement, the size of the outlet passage and the desired rate offeed. It is a matter of simple experiment to determine the weight .offollower that is suitable for use with any particular fluid in anyspecific type of implement, and the weight of the follower may be fixedeither by selecting the material of which it is made, or by modifyingthe size or structure of the body, it being remembered, however, that la body that isshorter than its diameter'may turn in the reservoir andjam against its wall.

A follower constructed as above described will fit the wall of thereservoir with suflicient closeness to prevent fluids or paste-likematerials such as are ordinarily applied to surfaces from seeping pastit To aid in preventing seepage of the coating material, and to cleanthe surface of the wall as the. follower travels downward, the bottomsurface of the follower advantageously is hollowed, as at 29, and thelower edge thereof is made sharp, to operate as a scraper. It has beenfound that a follower constructed in this manner will exert suflicientpressure to feed the material from the reservoir, and will clean theinner surface of the reservoir in the manner that a doctor on a printingpress operates, with'suflicient thoroughness to prevent sticking of thefollower due to seepage of the coating material past it.

In Figures '7 to 9, an implement having a tip specially adapted for theapplication of ink to a stamping pad is illustrated. This implementcomprises a rigid tubular reservoir 3| having a forward end that isreduced and terminates in a threaded nipple 31'. The reservoir containsa body of viscuous-stamping ink, and a follower 32 is slidably mountedin the reservoir, its sides being in contact with the inner surface ofthe reservoir and its under surface being in contact with the uppersurface of the body of ink.

The tip for applying the ink to the surface of the pad is mounted uponthe forward end of the reservoir 3! and comprises a body 33 having athreaded bore 34 for engagement with the threaded nipple 3|. The body 33tapers forwardly upon two opposite sides to form a relatively narrow andflat end surface 35 that extends transversely of the implement and thathas a sharp edge 36 upon each of its longitudinal sides. In the centerof the flat end surface 35 is the mouth 31 through which the ink isdelivered, this mouth being relatively large to permit a feed ofsuflicient volume for the intended purpose of applying ink to stampingpads. A ball 38 for closing the mouth 31 is urged outwardly by aspring-pressed plunger 38 supported in a spider 38 that is in turnseated upon the end of the nipple 3l'.;

In use, the reservoir of this implement is grasped as a handle, and theflat surface 36 is pressed upon the surface of the pad to be inked,whereby the ball 38 is pressed in and the mouth 3! opened. The ink isfed from the reservoir and from the mouth by the pressure exerted uponthe body of ink by the follower 32. The implement is moved over thesurface of the pad, the flat surface 35 acting as a spreader and wiperby means of which the ink is applied evenly. During this wipingoperation, the sharp edges 36 upon opposite sides of the flat surface 35act as scrapers with the wall of the reservoir 39, and that has anenlarged forward end 4| provided with an internally threadedbore 42, thebore" being in communication with the interior of the reservoir 39.Threaded into the bore 42 is a head 43 havrality of passages 41,arranged to form the characters to be applied by the implement, passthrough the front wall 48 of the head, these passages each having arestricted mouth 49 at its forward end for the delivery of the fluid andfor the reception of a ball 50 that operates as a closure for thepassage mouth in which it is positioned. The mouths of the passages, andthe balls, are so related in size that the latter project from theformer when in their closed positions. A plate 5| is slidable in thebore 45, such plate being urged forwardly in the direction of the endwall 48 by coil springs 52 that respectively surround pins 53 carried bythe plate, the springs engaging the end wall of the'bore 42 at theirinner ends. The plate 5! has openings 55 for the passage of the coatingmaterial.

- In order to yieldingly press the balls 50 to their closing positionsin the mouths 49, a pin 56 extends'into each of the passages 4?,the pinsbeing mounted upon the spring-pressed plate 5|. The

pins bear respectively upon the balls 50 and under pass between them andthe walls of the passages.

It will be noted that a peculiar cooperation takes place between theweighted follower and the end of the tip in an instrument of thischaracter. 'The openings of the various forms of tips, from which thematerial emerges, are inwardly spaced from the outer edges of the tips(see Figures 6, 8, and 11), by sufficient distance to re-' quire thatthe implements be brought to substan{ tially vertical position in orderto bring the openings in the faces of the tips into proximity to thesurfaces to be treated, with the edges surroundinjg such openings incontact with the surfaces. Similarly, the small balls 24, 38, and 50project such small distances beyond the tips, and are so spaced inwardlyfrom the outer edges thereof as to require substantially verticalarrangement of 50 r the implements before the valves can be opened.

Since the tubular reservoir of an implement that is provided with aslidable follower must be in a position approaching the vertical topermit sliding of the follower, it follows that placing the tips ofthese implements in operating contact with the surfaces to be treatedresults in the reservoirs being placed in proper position for sliding ofthe followers. Similarly, to open the r valve of an implement of thistype, the reservoir must be placed in a position that will permit thefollower to slide.

- In order to give an idea of the range of fluidity of materials withwhich followers of the type described are efiective, it may be statedthatexperiments have been performed with materials ranging from a fluidcement comprising a two percent solution of gumin an acetone solvent toa highly vlscuous material of theapproximate fluidity of cold molasses.In the case of the fluid cement, it was found that a follower ofextremely light material, such as wood or aluminum of 'a length justsuflicient to prevent it from'jamming in the tube should be used, sincea material ofsuch a degree of fluidity will feed itself from theimplement. If preferred, a hollow follower of greater length may beused.

. For the material at the other end of the range it was found that afollower of heavy material such as lead or bronze, equal in length tothe height of the material in the reservoir at the beginning of its useshould'be used. A follower of such weight will feed a material theconsist ency of cold molasses in a manner entirely suitable for markingor applying other small areas to a surface.

Between these extremes, dye-resistant ink of the type commonly used inmarking batches of textiles before dyeing, may be mentioned. Animplement having a tubular reservoir of approximately five-eighths inchdiameter, provided with a lead follower about three quarters of an inch.in length will feed this viscuous marking ink in an entirelysatisfactory manner. The follower in such an implement'weighs about anounce and a half, and it will be readily understood that as the diametervaries, the weight of the follower will vary in proportion if suchfollower is made of the same material. The length of the follower willvary with the material used in order to provide the correct weight.

' The use of a follower in the type of implement under discussionsupplies a long sought for method of feeding coating materials in asatisfactory Y manner. The feed is positive and the material isdelivered at a uniform rate during the entire time that a body of fluidis being used. The device is also capable of ready adjustment to suitmaterials of various degrees of fluidity, this being accomplished simplyby selecting the weight of the follower.

One important advantage of the device is that the follower adequatelyprotects the material in the reservoir from contact with the air at therear of the body of material, and therefore it prevents evaporation anddeterioration of the material within the reservoir.

In this connection it is to be noted that the follower, being in contactwith the rear surface of the coating material, will be held in contactwith such surface by the pressure of the air upon its own rear surface,even though the implement should be turned upside down and subjected toviolent jarring. Similarly, the material in the reservoir is preventedfrom rearward motion by the valved tip that prevents entry of air if theimplement is inverted. Consequently the material is always maintained atthe most forward point of the tubular reservoir where it is always readyfor use upon pressing the tip of the implement upon a surface to betreated, and the material is also always protected from air that mightenter through the tip were it not for the valve.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation andmany advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without further description, and it will bereadily apparent that changes in the size, shape and minor details maybe resorted to without'departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth in the accompanying? reservoir for the fluent material, thecombination with a weighted followed having surfaces parallel to, and inextended sliding contact with the inner surfaces of the tubularreservoir, of a tip mounted on the forward end of the reservoir andincluding a surface for contact with the surface to be treated, saidsurface of the tip having an opening connected with the interior of thereservoir, and the tip being so arranged relative to the said surface asto require the reservoir to be face for engagement with the surface tobe treat-.

ed, said surface of the tip having an opening connected with theinterior of the reservoir, and the edges of said opening beingsufflciently spaced inwardly from the edges of the surface to requirethe reservoir to be placed in a position sufflciently near the verticalto permit the follower to slide when an edge of the opening is broughtinto contact with the underlyinghorizontal surface to be treated. g 351Kimplement for applying fluent material to a surface, said implementcomprising a rigid tubular reservoir, a weighted follower within thereservoir and having surfaces parallel to and in extended slidingcontact with the inner surfaces of the reservoir, a tip mounted on theforward end of. the reservoir'and having a surface for engagement with asurface to be treated, said surface of the tip having an openingconnected with the interior of the reservoir, the edges of the saidopening being spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the surface of thetip, and a spring-closed valve for controlling the passage of fluentmaterial from the reservoir through the opening, a plunger for openingsaid valve extending beyond the surface of the tip for operation byengagement with the surface to be treated, the plunger being so arrangedand related to the edges of the surface of the tip as to require thereservoir to be held sufliciently near the vertical to permit thefollower to slide when the plunger is operated by engagement with thesurface to be treated.

4. In an implement for applying fluent matefollower to slide, means foropening the valve when the implement is placed in operating relationwitha surface to be treated, and means for closing the valve when theimplement is removed from operating position.

5. In an implement for applying fluent material to an underlyingsurface, said implement including a tip having a discharge orifice forapplying the material, and a rigid tubular reservoir for the material tobe applied, said reservoir being arranged with relation to the tip forsubstantially vertical disposition when the tip'is applied in operativerelation to a surface, and

being connected with the orifice of the tip for supplying materialthereto; a weighted follower within the reservoir, said follower havinglongitudinally extended surfaces in slidable contact with thesurrounding inner surfaces of the reservoir, said follower being adaptedto engage and exert pressure upon the rear surface of a body a 7 g I 5of fluent material within the vreservoir when the reservoir is in,substantially vertical disposition, the extendedsurfaces ofthe followerbeing in sumciently close engagement with the surrounding surfaces ofthe reservoir to prevent flow of fluent material of the viscosity of thematerial to be applied by the implement past the follower.

JOHN P. NISSEN, JR.

